Increasing your calories can be simply adding another protein drink. You are staying the guidelines of caloric intake, and unfortunately most everyone hits a stall around the 2nd to 4th week. Increase your water intake and see if that helps get the scale going. Don't get too discouraged, stalls happen, they suck but stick with your program.

What is your caloric intake guidelines ladies?

my doc wanted me to be getting around 600-800 cals a day but by the time I go back to see him on jan 21st he wants me up to 1000 cal per day. i just can't seem to get there with everything i am eating. like today i got around 723cals today. and only 36g. of carbs.

I can barely close in on 800 calories a day, and I know that I need to get to at least 1000 so I can maintain.

During the weight loss stage (the time until you get to goal), I was told to stick with 600-800 calories per day. Now, that I'm supposed to be maintaining, I need to hit 1000 calories.

YOu guys! I must be doing something very wrong, I am eating between 1000- 1200 a day!

How often do you eat?

I eat 3 meals a day. No protein supplements, and occasionally I have a snack mid-afternoon. It's usually crackers with cream cheese, or deli meat with cream cheese. I stay full for a long, long time. Like today, I went and worked out at the gym, came home made some tuna salad with pickles and miracle whip, I ate 3 ounces with 1 saltine cracker, and was stuffed. That was 1.5 hours ago, and I'll eat again at 2:30 when the kiddo gets home from school, and I make him a snack, then I'll have dinner.

The only time I get over 800 calories a day is if candy/junk food which I admit to doing a couple of times a week.

My nutritionist just told me to keep it around 800. SO I need to revamp my diet. I think the biggest thing is that I am still doing protein drinks and they are 200 cal each, so if i cut those out, I should be better off...it is just so hard to get the protein in enough to speed the weight loss.

I am wondering, what your diet was each day...a few months out.

Also, I am jealous, I don't think I get as full as you, but I do think I am dealing with head hunger lots lately, like I can eat cause I like food, but don't need to.

Did you ever deal with this, even back with your first WLS?

Yes, with the band, I had major head hunger, with the sleeve, I just don't have it.

If you can get your protein from food source, kick the protein supplements.

I hate breakfast food. So, I don't eat early in the morning. I wait until mid-morning 10-11am, and I eat tuna, I can eat about 5 ounces of tuna with miracle whip.

Lunch (around 2-3pm) I'll have meat, leftovers from dinner the night before, or deli meat with cream cheese, maybe some a cheese slice or laughing cow cheese.

Dinner - is whatever I make for the family. Last night, I had 3 ounces of barbque venision, 1 tablespoon of scalloped potatoes, and 2 ounces of broccoli/cheese sauce. I also hate 1 bite of a crescent roll with some blackerry jelly.

Some days, I know I'm not getting in my protein. I usually make up for it the next day.

Well, I just need to track and get on it then, I hope I have not sabotaged myself. If I start back and get under my caloric intake daily, you think I will lose again??

Yeppers, and increase water intake definitely helps.

rachel- are you using the fitday.com website that lets you key in everything you have eaten for the day and a good way for you to keep up with it. you could also print this out and take it to your nutritionist for you guys to sit down and take a look at what you are eating.

also rachel i want to ask a question about your protein shakes. do they equal 200 cal with protein and milk? mine are: protein 96 cal and 1% milk for 4oz is 48 cal.

Well, I just made a protein shake, it is 150 cal without milk, and has 1 g sugar and only 1.5 fat and 7 g carb. But I add 1 cup milk, yogurt and half a banana to make a smoothie.

Gives me over 40 g protein just for breakfast, but is is 380+ calories right there!

I hate the taste unless I make it with yogurt or fruit...

So now I only have 300 something calories left for the day and 40 more grams of protein to go find in those calories.

I am getting down. My weight keeps going up a bit each day and then will dip, but hasn't gone down in over 2 weeks now...

my weight hasn't budged either in at least 1 1/2 weeks. don't really understand why it is not moving either. which type of milk are you using? try putting only half of the yogurt in the smoothie. are you putting yogurt and fruit in the shake? are you able to eat fresh fruit right now?

I use skim milk. I spoke with my nutritionist and we kind of "started all over". I am to keep my calories between 800-1000. I am to use either the milk or the yogurt but not both in my protein shake. Yes, she told me to use fresh fruit, but to use berries, like strawberries or blueberries instead of a banana for now since the banana is carb and sugar high.

I will try it today. I also switched yogurt to Dannon light n fit which has 80 cal instead of 100-110.

I also have been back to the gym this week. I walked 2 miles yesterday in 24 minutes! I was so proud. For me that is a lot since I haven't worked out in forever. But I feel better when I do, my insides feel better and I know it will work.

I am sitting at 251 today and my hope is to keep eating lean protein and working out and drinking more water and see if I can get in the 240s by this weekend.

The other thing I noticed is everyone says keep their carbs under 30. Is that 30 grams or 30%? I use the online food diary and it says to keep your carbs at a certain percentage, but I am not sure how I could keep them under 30g per day. My nutritionist says it depends on what kind of carbs. Like if it comes from yogurt and refried beans or something with protein it is ok and not to worry about it. She says for me to focus on the 80g protein, calories and water and the rest will take care of itself.

I have a turkey roll up recipe if you want it!

Let me know how you are doing!

good for you rachel. i am glad you called her to talk about the foods you should eat. i am going to call my nutritionist to ask questions about carbs and cals. i am stressing so much about that and i don't want too. the scale started moving this am. i had lost just 1 more pound. so hope fully it will start again. i am hitting the gym pretty hard. i have been going everyday this week. i usually try to do cardio 5 days a week and strength training 3 days a week. that is what i want to get in habit of doing. i think working out makes a huge difference in weight loss. i wish we lived closer to each other. what is your age? i am 39 and have been heavy since 92 right after i got married. well talk later and hope your scale starts moving for you.

lol

laura

oh and i also want that recipe. that sounds good. i need more ideas of things to take to work that i can eat.